Explore the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa

Explore the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa: Africa, the second-largest continent in the world, makes up 20% of the planet’s surface area and spans 11.7 million square miles (30.3 million square kilometers). Africa is typically connected with the realm of wildlife, even though it is home to the only surviving original member of the 7 Wonders of the World. There are 16,000 miles (26,000 km) of shoreline on the continent.

Africa boasts the highest number, population, and variety of wild animals that are allowed to roam free anywhere in the world. The lion actually reigns supreme as the king of beasts, and the continent is home to the largest variety of carnivores. The Big 7—the lion, leopard, crocodile, elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, and lowland gorilla—all live and may be seen in Africa during your safari tour. Over 3,000 protected areas may be found in Africa, some of which are home to the natural wonders of the area, Explore the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

Africa is a sizable continent with a wide variety of topographies and uncommon experiences. Some say it’s a magical place that moves you in ways that no other can. Undoubtedly, many travelers to Africa come back often in search of fresh experiences. What are the seven Natural Wonders of Africa?  It was difficult to choose just seven of the jaw-dropping natural wonders that Africa has to offer. We could certainly come up with a lot more. However, we hope that the list we have put together will give you a flavor of what is available and the motivation to visit this unusual continent.

1. Victoria Falls: the largest waterfall in the world

Victoria Falls is one of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders. It is the biggest waterfall in the world, statistically speaking. This distinction is due to the fact that the largest single sheet of flowing water was created by combining the height and width. Travelers have two options for getting to Victoria Falls: either through Livingstone, Zambia, or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls is situated on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Botswana border is also not far from the falls. The water source for the fall is the Zambezi River, which has its origins in northern Zambia.

The Scottish adventurer Dr. David Livingstone gave the falls the name Victoria Falls. The reigning queen at the time inspired him to name the falls. The falls were known as Moshi-oa-Tunya, which is Swahili for “smoke that thunders.” This nickname, which perfectly captures the force of the falls slamming down the canyon bottom, is still frequently used. With the exception of Livingstone and Victoria Falls, all of Zambia’s streets, cities, and buildings were given African names after the country earned independence from Britain in 1964. This demonstrated the Zambians’ profound respect and admiration for the Scottish missionary.

Quick facts about Victoria Falls

• Also called Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “smoke that thunders.”
• The largest waterfall based on width and height
• One mile wide (1.7 km) and 360 feet high (108 meters).
• Two national parks protect the falls: Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and Victoria Falls National Park.

FISH RIVER CANYON: 2,300 miles are covered by the Fish River Canyon (5,900 sq. km.). Treks, hikes, and trail running are the most popular ways to explore the canyon. To complete a hike, it could take roughly 5 days. Africa’s greatest canyon is created by this gigantic ravine and canyon, which is 100 miles (160 km) long and up to 16.7 miles (27 km) wide. The depth of the Fish River Canyon rises to a height of 1,804 feet (550 m). The river water is seasonal, flowing in full during the late summer and becoming more like a network of pools for the remainder of the year.

2. Mount Kilimanjaro: The largest mountain in Africa & largest free Standing Mountain in the world

Mount Kilimanjaro also known as the Roof of Africa is another seven Natural wonders of Africa. A peak on Mount Kilimanjaro is covered in snow the entire year. At least six different ecological zones may be found on the mountain, including montane forests, woodlands, rain forests, heath and moorland, highland barrens, and an ice cap. The area is protected by Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, and hikers can reach the top via seven recognized routes. It is the tallest mountain in Africa and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. It is one of the tallest stratovolcanoes in the world, rising 19,340 feet (5,895 m), Explore the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa

A composite volcano, Mount Kilimanjaro is made up of lava, tephra, and volcanic ash layers. It is not currently active and has never been known to erupt. The mountain has seven different peaks, with Uhuru Peak being the highest point and actual summit of the mountain. On the way to and from Arusha, Tanzania, one can see Mount Kilimanjaro. The most beautiful vista, nevertheless, is seen in Amboseli National Park on the Kenyan side.

Quick facts about Mount Kilimanjaro

• Summit is at 19,340 feet (5,895 m).
• Tallest mountain in Africa
• Tallest free-standing Mountain in the world

3. Ngorongoro crater: The largest crater in the world and who’s all its walls are still free standing

The largest intact caldera in the world is Ngorongoro Crater is another seven natural wonders of Africa. The Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most breathtaking sights, is situated in northern Tanzania, just south of the renowned Serengeti National Park. One of those moments when you either go completely silent in amazement or let out an expletive is when you reach the crater’s rim and look down 2,000 feet to its floor. The volcano that collapsed into the crater blew its vents off a few million years ago. The crater bottom is about 100 square miles in size and contains a freshwater lake and a miniature Serengeti. A typical day in the crater includes a descent at dawn, a picnic lunch, and an ascent in the late afternoon.

Many people affectionately refer to it as “Africa’s Garden of Eden“ and call it a “fish bowl of wildlife.” Over 30,000 species live in the crater, including the Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and hippopotamus). The perimeter of Ngorongoro Crater is pretty stable at 12 miles (19 km) wide. Hyenas, zebras, elands, wildebeest, impalas, cheetahs, and buffalos are among the other animals that make the crater home.

4. Nile River: The longest river in Africa

On February 11, 2013, in Arusha, Tanzania, the Nile River was formally recognized as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Africa. Experts from all over the world cast their votes, noting the essential statistical relevance. The Nile River, which runs through 10 nations in northern Africa, is the longest river in the world, measuring 4,132 miles (6,650 km).

Quick facts about the Nile River

• Longest river in the world, stretching 4,132 miles (6,650 km).
• Traverses 10 countries.
• The river’s mouth is in Egypt.
• There are two sources, one in Uganda and one in Ethiopia.

The Nile River flows through ten nations in northern Africa: Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Egypt, where it empties into the Mediterranean Sea,Explore the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

The Amazon River is outdone by the Nile River in length, which is longer by 155 feet. The Nile is thought to have two sources, one of which rises in Ethiopia and the other in Uganda. The Uganda Minister of Tourism designated the source as a protected area after it received formal recognition as a natural wonder. Murchison Falls, a magnificent Nile cascade, is located in Uganda. The formidable Nile River smashes through crooked canyon walls to build the thunderous Murchison Falls.

As it flows northward toward the Mediterranean, the Nile River spends a significant amount of time meandering across the Sahara Desert. The Nile originates from two locations in the south and splits into two branches as it travels its entire course into Egypt. Damietta is the name of the east branch, whereas Rosetta is the name of the west branch. The Nile Delta is the name of this region,Explore the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

5. The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta, one of Africa’s best-known natural wonders, is nourished by a river whose source is almost a thousand miles away in the Angolan Highlands. It originates from the Caprivi Strip at the top of Namibia and flows south-east into the Kalahari Desert, where it forms the only river delta in the world to flow into a desert rather than open water due to an ancient rift. It is even more remarkable that the delta floods during the dry winter months of Botswana rather than during the wet season. The yearly flood brings cold, clear waters that are home to a variety of species in large numbers.

Visit between early May and mid-September for the best chance to witness Botswana come alive when the flood arrives, but keep in mind that this depends largely on when and how much rain falls in Angola, which is not a perfect science.

6. Sahara desert: The largest dry desert in the world

On February 11, 2013, in Arusha, Tanzania, the Sahara Desert was formally recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. Experts from all over the world cast their votes, noting the essential statistical relevance. The Sahara Desert, which is home to numerous significant elements of nature, was mentioned by voters as being much more than just sand. This significant fact, that it is the largest dry desert in the world, was the main motivator for voting.

Quick facts about The Sahara desert

• The world’s largest hot desert
• Covers 11 countries and accounts for 3, 500, 00 square miles (9,000,000 sq km).
• Sand dunes as high as 600 feet (180 meters)
• Home to several features that could be considered “wonders” themselves

The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world. When most people picture a desert, they picture scorching sand dunes. But a desert is defined by the dictionary as a dry, arid region with little or no precipitation. Although technically deserts, Antarctica and the Arctic are larger than the Sahara. The Sahara Desert covers over 3,600,000 square miles (9,400,000 square kilometers).This is roughly the size of China or the United States in comparison. As a result, the Sahara is the biggest sand or hot desert on earth. The Red Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Niger River Valley, and Mediterranean Sea make up the Sahara Desert’s eastern, western, southern, and northern borders, respectively.

The nations of Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, and Tunisia are at least partially included in the desert. All other rivers are seasonal, while the Nile flows year-round through the Sahara Desert. The northern and southern portions of the desert may have grasslands, but the central area is very dry. The vast sand dunes and dune fields that make up the desert’s geography can be compared to a sea of sand. Arid valleys, salt flats, gravel plains, and other odd and distinctive landforms are also present,Explore the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

7. The Serengeti great wildebeest Migration​​: The largest active animal migration in the world

Tanzania and Kenya share the Serengeti-mara ecosystem, or endless plains, which is home to the great wildebeest migration. The African habitat known as the Serengeti stretches from south-western Kenya to northern Tanzania. The Maasai Mara is the name of the Serengeti in Kenya. The biggest migration of terrestrial mammals occurs in this habitat. The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and several other game reserves make up the ecoregion. Along with lions, this area is home to 500 different types of birds and 70 different large animal species. The Serengeti has a diverse landscape, including grasslands, wooded areas, riverine forests, wetlands, and kopjes.

The Serengeti region is the site of the annual great wildebeest migration. Ngorongoro Conservation Area in southern Serengeti, Tanzania, is where the migration starts. Nearly 260,000 zebras, 1.7 million wildebeest, 470,000 gazelles, and other plains animals start their migratory journey between January and March. These animals begin feeding on the short-grass plains of the southeast Serengeti by around February, and by that time they have given birth to about 500,000 calves. Animals start to go northwest in May when the rains stop, but they stop in the area surrounding the Grumeti River until late June. The herds arrive in Kenya in late July or early August and remain there. The great migration is a dramatic journey that includes migrants’ births and deaths. Due to dehydration, hunger, and predators, about 250,000 wildebeest perish on the voyage.